TJs Chipotle Salsa: Not as Good as You Wanted It to Be

Man, people love Trader Joe's! Growing up in Southern California, you just can't get away from the utilitarian appeal and ubiquity of Trader Joe's. Any house party, art opening, or even baby shower is usually abounding with a manner of Trader Joe's snacks, refreshments and crudités. And as far as most Californians are concerned, the world – as we know it, would come to an unfortunate and dramatic end if Trader Joe's went the way of KB Toys and Circuit City.

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As deep as the praise and adoration may run, Trader Joe's sometimes misses the mark. For every stellar Trader Joe's product, available at a far more affordable price than you might find in a competing high-end market, there are the puzzling missteps that are usually some odd flavor combination/cultural hybrid that should not have made it two-steps through the R&D phase. And sometimes, the masterminds behind Trader Joe's products, just plainly drop the ball on something as simple as salsa; in this case it is Garlic Chipotle Salsa.

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Historically, I have really enjoyed most of Trader Joe's fresh, as well as bottled and jarred salsas (this particular salsa is jarred). They are usually well balanced, fresh, and suitably hot. While Trader Joe's new Garlic Chipotle Salsa will not single-handedly ruin the company's fortunes, it will not win over any new converts.

First the problems: The biggest issue I have with the salsa is its strong vinegar smell and flavor. I thoroughly understand the necessity of vinegar in preserving and maintaining the integrity of shelf-stable salsas, but the addition of too much of the pungent stuff just throws the whole delicate balance out of whack. Because of the strong vinegar concentration, the salsa is reduced to a battle between tang and heat. The garlic, tomatoes, and even the lime are reduced to background players, at best, leaving no clear definition of ingredients or components. The salsa is left suitably spicy, but watery and tasting a bit jarred and tired.

While I wouldn't (and couldn't) brand this as an entirely bad or repellant example of a salsa (I certainly wouldn't spit it out if it were served at a christening or a wrap party) I know the fine folks at Trader Joe's can and will do better. Until then, go for the Salsa Del Cabo or any of the other fresh Trader Joe's salsas.

Trader Joe's Garlic Chipotle Salsa ($2.99 for a 16-ounce jar) is available at Trader Joe's nationwide.